Ax-handle wedge.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

L. P. HERZOG. AX HANDLE WEDGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1905.

the grooves 5 are rinrrn STATES LEO F. HERZOG, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AX-HANDLE WEDGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed August 7, 1905. Serial No. 273,110.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEO F. HERzoe, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ax-Handle Wedges, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to ax-handle wedges; and the object of my invention is to construct a wedge that when once driven into position will so embed itself in the wood of the handle as that it will not readily become displaced and which wedge is so constructed as to spread the lower ends of a retaining-staple that is driven over the wedge in the end of the handle.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wedge of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the wedge. Fig. 3 is a plan view of an ax-head and showing my improved wedge in position in the end of the handle. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, the body 1 of the wedge is provided with the usual fiat top side 2 and the sharpened lower edge 3.

Formed in the top of the central portion of this wedge is a notch 4, that extends transversely in a diagonal direction across the top of the body of the wedge, and extending downwardly from this notch and formed in the body of the wedge, on each side thereof, are the grooves 5, the same being formed on lines at slight angles to a perpendicular line. Formed integral with the side faces of the wedge immediately below the lower ends of the outwardly-projecting lugs 6, which are approximately triangular when viewed in vertical cross-section, and the top surfaces of these lugs are a continuation of the surfaces of the web or body of the wedge 1, that is between the grooves 5.

When a wedge of my improved construction has been driven into the upper end of an ax-handle having the ax-head thereon, the

wood surrounding the wedge will necessarily be expanded and caused to very tightly engage against the ax-head andto retain said head upon the handle.

The lugs 6, carried by the wedge, will embed themselves in the wood of the handle, and thus of themselves very effectually pre vent the dislodgment of the wedge after it has once been driven into position.

To further retain the wedge in the handle, 4

an ordinary staple, such as A, is driven over said wedge, the prongs of said staple passing downwardly through the grooves 5, and when the points of said prongs strike the inchned upper sides of the lugs 6 they will be deflected outwardly through the wood at the sides of the staple, as indicated by B, Fig. 4, and thls will also serve to maintain the wedge in posi- It will be observed that locking-lugs 6 project free a considerable distance beyond any part of the device, so that even if the said staple is not used the said lugs will still look the wedge securely in position, and also that the said staple fits entirely within said grooves except at the outer points of said lugs.

A wedge of my improved construction is very simple, can be cheaply manufactured, is easily placed in position, and very effectually retains the ax-head upon the handle.

1. An ax-handle wedge, constructed with the body portion having a notch diagonally arranged in its top, there being grooves formed in the sides of the wedge that extend downwardly from the notch and said grooves gradually becoming shallower toward their lower ends, and locking-lugs integral with the sides of the Wedge at the lower ends of the grooves which lugs are equal in width to the grooves and the top and bottom surfaces of which lugs are convex in cross-section, and said top surfaces being continuations of the bottom surfaces of the grooves; substantially as specified.

2. An ax-handle wedge, constructed with the body portion having a notch diagonally arranged in its top, there being grooves formed in the sides of the wedge that extend downwardly from the notch and said grooves gradually becoming shallower toward their lower ends, and locking-lugs integral with the sides of the wedge at the lower ends of the grooves which lugs are equal in width to the grooves and the top and bottom surfaces of In testimony whereof I have signed my which lugs are convex in cross-section, and name to this specification in presence of two 10 said top surfaces being continuations of thesubscribing witnesses. bottom surfaces of the grooves in co1nbination with a common staple fitted entirely within the grooves so that its lower ends are Witnesses: deflected outwardly by the top faces of the M11 SMITH, lugs substantially as specified. l E. M. HARRINGTON.

LEO F. HERZOG. 

